John 21 - NIV Quest Study Bible

Some think Peter returned to his original profession and backed away from Jesus’ commission (20:21). Others suggest he may have been doing what he knew best while waiting for more direction from the Lord.There are a number of possible reasons. (1) He may have looked different because of the physical torture he had suffered prior to his death (20:24 – 27). (2) He may intentionally have prevented them from recognizing him (Lk 24:16,31). (3) He appeared to them in the early morning from far enough away that he called out to them (Jn 21:5). (4) Perhaps they didn’t realize he was standing on the shore because they were preoccupied by their failure to catch any fish.The repeated questions were for Peter’s benefit, not to reassure Jesus of Peter’s loyalty. This was particularly important in view of Peter’s recent threefold denial of Jesus (18:15 – 27). Jesus was helping Peter overcome his own doubts about his love for Jesus. Here Jesus used two different words for the English word love, one higher and nobler than the other. John used the words interchangeably in his writing, but it’s possible Jesus was challenging Peter to consider just what kind of love he had for his Savior.To love Jesus is to love those in the church, which he compared to sheep in a flock (10:14). Jesus told Peter to care for them as a shepherd would care for his sheep: teach (feed) them God’s Word, guide and protect them, bring them back if they strayed and help heal them if they were hurt.Peter later echoed this charge to the elders (called shepherds) of churches to which he wrote (1Pe 5:1 – 2).Comparisons can lead to problems. The disciples competed with each other and argued about who among them was the greatest (Mk 9:34; Lk 9:46; 22:24). Comparing ourselves to others can make us vulnerable to the schemes of the enemy.Someone other than John likely added this brief note — perhaps the elders or even the entire church at Ephesus, which was where John ministered and the place where he probably wrote his Gospel. If so, they vouched for the integrity of John, who often preached to them about his firsthand experiences with Jesus.